A fresh application to build housing on a city centre playing field will be publicly advertised this week, Armagh I can reveal.
The Clump, as it is known, is the highest point in Armagh.
There have been numerous plans for housing at the site over the years, all of which had been met with objections by the former Armagh City and District Council.
This is the first time such a matter will go before the new Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council since it assumed responsibility for planning matters.
The Clump was used by the military as a football field as far back as the middle of the last century.
And generations of young people since have made use of it, the Clump also having been used to stage Mid-Ulster League matches.
Armagh Council was up in arms when the Ministry of Defence moved to put the land on the open market a number of years ago.
It had wanted to buy the land to retain it for recreation purposes, as it argued it was one of the few areas of open space within the city centre.
A previous planning application had previously been approved at the Clump and ministerial intervention was sought.
The council felt the land should have been handed back to the people from the MoD.
Despite a previous approval being given for a higher number of houses to be built, nothing has been constructed.
The Clump, Armagh
But a Benburb-based company has now brought forward a fresh planning application for housing.
The site is on lands at Dobbin Hill Road/Dobbin Hill Park, Armagh, in close proximity to the Orchard Leisure Centre.
The application is for approval to build 24 new properties – 22 semi-detached and two detached homes.
KPID Ltd, which is the applicant, has been instructed to provide a flood risk assessment before Wednesday, November 18, as the matter is considered by planning officers.
It could be expected to take some time before a determination on this latest housing proposal is made.
Read more news:
Court told man found standing on top of stolen ATM with a consaw
Former Crewcatt premises earmarked for 24-hour unmanned filling station
Officer ‘stable’ in hospital as police reveal lorry which struck him was stolen
Hit and run: Police officer struck by lorry in ‘attempted murder’
Watch: Shocking moment thieves target ATM in Bessbrook
Bessbrook ATM raid: One man arrested; forensics examine white van
